My Live Steam Locomotive
Every time I go to a live steam meet I start wishing and dreaming... I eventually come back to reality and see that I don't have the room or money. Well at a steam meet in 2000 (I think) I saw this guy that had a g gauge locomotive that was live steam, I had seen it on the internet but it really had an affect on me actually seeing it in person. It was called a "Ruby", that stuck with me because it was my Grandmother's name. I was determined to get one! I started saving money but then I needed a car and forgot about the steam locomotive. Fast foward to 2005. Unfortunately my Grandmother passed away, but very shortly after she passed I saw an ad for Ruby available as a kit. This time I did not hesitate, I went to Ridge Road Station and ordered a kit. In early July I got a call that my kit was finally in. I picked it up on July 2nd and construction of the engine started that night!
On July 10, 2005 the kit was completed! I could not wait to steam the engine up, so at 9:30 p.m. the fire was lit and a few minutes later the safety lifted and off she went! The ironic part is July 10 was my Grandmother's birthday - it must have been a sign! Any way, the first run went fairly well, there were a few kinks that needed to be tended to, but it was really a dream come true.
I am very much still a rookie to live steam so I don't have any plans of altering the engine mechanically, but I hope to customize the engine shortly. I plan on painting the engine. I may get a new cab or just paint the current one. I want to get a cow catcher, bell, headlight, and a tender is a must for the engine. Then after that, I am going to buy another locomotive and then another...